ARRANGEMENT OF A LIGHT SOURCE AND A CARRIER THEREOF IN A HOUSING OF A SKIN TREATMENT DEVICE

Abstract

In the field of skin treatment, a device (40) is provided which is of the type comprising a housing (41) provided with a skin-contacting surface (42) arranged to be in contact with skin (100) of a user. At least one light source (50) is arranged in the housing (41) for generating treatment light to be applied to the skin (100) via a light-transmitting portion (43) of the skin-contacting surface (42), wherein the light source (50) is mounted on a first side (61) of a carrier (60), said first side (61) facing away from the skin-contacting surface (42), and wherein the housing (41) accommodates an optical reflector (70). Further, at least a portion of a second side (62) of the carrier (60) is mounted to an inner side of a wall portion of the housing (41) including part of the skin-contacting surface (42), or constitutes part of the skin-contacting surface (42).

Claims

1. Skin treatment device (40) comprising: a housing (41) provided with a skin-contacting surface (42) arranged to be in contact with skin (100) of a user during use of the device (40); at least one light source (50) arranged in the housing (41) for generating treatment light to be applied to the skin (100) via a light-transmitting portion (43) of the skin-contacting surface (42) which is optically transparent; a carrier (60) having a first side (61) on which the light source (50) is mounted, said first side (61) facing away from the skin-contacting surface (42); an optical reflector (70) accommodated by the housing (41) and arranged for reflecting the treatment light generated by the at least one light source (50) towards the light-transmitting portion (43) of the skin-contacting surface (42); wherein: at least a portion of a second side (62) of the carrier (60) opposite to the first side (61) of the carrier (60): i) is mounted to an inner side of a wall portion of the housing (41), said wall portion including part of the skin-contacting surface (42), wherein said part of the skin-contacting surface (42) is located on an outer side of said wall portion which is opposite to said inner side of said wall portion; or ii) constitutes part of the skin-contacting surface (42).

2. Skin treatment device (40) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (41) comprises an optically transparent wall (44) including said light-transmitting portion (43) of the skin-contacting surface (42).

3. Skin treatment device (40) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second side (62) of the carrier (60) is mounted in direct contact with an inner surface (45) of the optically transparent wall (44).

4. Skin treatment device (40) as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the carrier (60) is arranged in an opening provided in the optically transparent wall (44); and the skin-contacting surface (42) comprises the second side (62) of the carrier (60).

5. Skin treatment device (40) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a space in the skin treatment device (40) which is present at a skin-facing side of the optical reflector (70) and which accommodates the light source (50) is filled with an optically transparent encapsulation material (80).

6. Skin treatment device (40) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first side (61) of the carrier (60) is coated with a diffuse reflecting layer.

7. Skin treatment device (40) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thermal portion (46) of the skin-contacting surface (42) associated with the second side (62) of the carrier (60) is located adjacent to the light-transmitting portion (43) of the skin-contacting surface (42).

8. Skin treatment device (40) as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the light source (50) is an LED; and the carrier (60) is a printed circuit board (PCB).

9. Skin treatment device (40) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source (50) is configured to generate infrared or near-infrared light.

10. Skin treatment device (40) as claimed in claim 9, further comprising at least one indicator element configured to emit visible light via the light-transmitting portion (43) of the skin-contacting surface (42) when the light source (50) emits the treatment light.

11. Shaving unit (3) of an electric shaver, comprising a supporting member (5), at least one hair-cutting unit (4) supported by the supporting member (5), and at least one skin treatment device (40) as claimed in claim 1.

12. Shaving unit (3) as claimed in claim 11, wherein: the hair-cutting unit (4) comprises an external cutting member (10) with hair-entry openings (15), an internal cutting member (20) which is covered by the external cutting member (10) and rotatable relative to the external cutting member (10), and a skin-supporting member (30) surrounding the external cutting member (10); and the skin treatment device (40) is integrated into the skin-supporting member (30) of the hair-cutting unit (4).

13. Shaving unit (3) as claimed in claim 12, wherein: the skin treatment device (40) comprises a plurality of light sources (50); and the light sources (50) are positioned throughout the skin-supporting member (30) in a configuration to at least partially surround the external cutting member (10).

14. Shaving unit (3) as claimed in claim 11, comprising at least two hair-cutting units (4) and at least one skin treatment device (40) associated with each hair-cutting unit (4).

15. Electric shaver (1) comprising a main body (2) and a shaving unit (3) as claimed in claim 11, coupled to the main body (2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the figures, in which equal or similar parts are indicated by the same reference signs, and in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of an electric shaver according to an embodiment of the invention, which electric shaver comprises a shaving unit and a main body;

[0029] FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of an external cutting member, a decorative cap and an internal cutting member of a hair-cutting unit of the shaving unit, wherein both the external cutting member and the cap are shown with a portion cut away;

[0030] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate two options in respect of the set-up of a skin treatment device according to the invention, as integrated into a skin-supporting member of the hair-cutting unit and used on skin;

[0031] FIGS. 5 and 6 diagrammatically show a perspective front view and a perspective back view, respectively, of an assembly of components of a shaving unit according to the invention, which shaving unit comprises a supporting member, three hair-cutting units supported by the supporting member, and skin treatment devices associated with each hair-cutting unit;

[0032] FIG. 7 diagrammatically shows a sectional view of a portion of the assembly of components of one of the hair-cutting units of the shaving unit and the skin treatment device associated with the hair-cutting unit;

[0033] FIG. 8 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of the assembly of components of the shaving unit, wherein the assembly is shown with a portion cut away;

[0034] FIG. 9 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of only the skin-supporting members and the skin treatment devices of the three hair-cutting units of the shaving unit; and

[0035] FIGS. 10 and 11 diagrammatically show perspective views of only the skin-supporting member and the skin treatment device of one of the hair-cutting units of the shaving unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0036] FIG. 1 shows an electric shaver of the rotary type, which is suitable to be used for shaving a beard, as a practical example of an electric shaver 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The electric shaver 1 comprises a main body 2 and a shaving unit 3, wherein the main body 2 is designed to enable a user of the shaver 1 to take hold of the shaver 1 and to handle the shaver 1, and wherein the shaving unit 3 is the part of the shaver 1 that is to be positioned on and moved over the skin for hair removal. In the present example, the shaving unit 3 comprises three hair-cutting units 4 supported on a supporting member 5 of the shaving unit 3. When the electric shaver 1 is actually applied for the purpose of performing a shaving action, the actual process of cutting of hairs protruding from the skin takes place at the position of the hair-cutting units 4. In the context of the invention, the number of hair-cutting units 4 can be chosen freely and does not necessarily need to be three. The main body 2 may have a function in accommodating at least one electric motor for driving components of the respective hair-cutting units 4. The main body 2 may further include means such as a rechargeable battery for powering the at least one electric motor. It is practical if the shaving unit 3 and the main body 2 are releasably connectable to each other, as known per se in the field of electric shavers.

[0037] Each of the hair-cutting units 4 comprises a combination of an external cutting member 10 and an internal cutting member 20. Further, each of the hair-cutting units 4 comprises a skin-supporting member 30 which is arranged so as to surround the external cutting member 10.

[0038] Details of the combination of the external cutting member 10 and the internal cutting member 20 are now described with reference to FIG. 2. The external cutting member 10 is of a generally cup-shaped design and is thereby suitable for at least partially accommodating the internal cutting member 20 in its interior. The external cutting member 10 has an annular shaving track 11, an upper surface 12 of the shaving track 11 being intended to face and contact the skin to be subjected to a shaving action. The shaving track 11 comprises lamellae 13 extending along the width of the shaving track 11, in a substantially radial direction relative to a central axis 14 of the hair-cutting unit 4, which coincides with a rotational axis 21 about which the internal cutting member 20 is rotatable relative to the external cutting member 10. Apertures as present between the lamellae 13 constitute hair-entry openings 15 of the shaving track 11. Sides of the lamellae 13 constitute hair-cutting surfaces 16 suitable for cutting off hairs in cooperation with hair-cutting edges 22 of hair-cutting elements 23 of the internal cutting member 20. The invention also relates to cases in which the shaving track 11 does not comprise lamellae 13 or does not only comprise lamellae 13, such as cases in which the entire shaving track 11 is provided with teeth-like elements and/or a pattern of (circular) holes instead of or in addition to lamellae 13. Also, the invention relates to cases in which more than one shaving track 11 is present in the external cutting member 10.

[0039] A shaving action can be performed when the internal cutting member 20 is activated to rotate and a portion of skin is actually contacted by the external cutting member 10 at the position of the upper surface 12 of the shaving track 11. Activation of the internal cutting member 20 may take place in a known manner by means of a drive mechanism of the electric shaver 1. When the combination of the external cutting member 10 and the internal cutting member 20 is moved over the portion of skin while the internal cutting member 20 is driven to rotate, it is achieved that hairs protruding from the portion of skin are caught in the hair-entry openings 15 of the shaving track 11 of the external cutting member 10 and are cut off in that position as result of a cooperation between the hair-cutting surfaces 16 of the shaving track 11 of the external cutting member 10 and the hair-cutting edges 22 of the hair-cutting elements 23 of the rotating internal cutting member 20.

[0040] Besides the shaving track 11, the external cutting member 10 includes a central portion 17 comprising a central bearing portion which is designed to be used in rotationally supporting the internal cutting member 20 in the hair-cutting unit 4. The central portion 17 of the external cutting member 10 also serves for supporting a decorative cap 25 configured to cover part of the exterior surface of the external cutting member 10. In the present example, the central portion 17 comprises a centrally located recess, and the cap 25 comprises a projection which is accommodated in the recess.

[0041] Each of the hair-cutting units 4 is equipped with a skin treatment device 40, as will now be explained in more details with reference to FIGS. 3-11. Two options in respect of the set-up of the skin treatment device 40 are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. It is to be noted that the skin treatment device 40 does not necessarily need to be integrated in a structure such as a hair-cutting unit 4 of a shaving unit 3, although this is a practical option. Main components of the skin treatment device 40 are the following: [0042] a housing 41 provided with a skin-contacting surface 42 including a light-transmitting portion 43 which is optically transparent, [0043] at least one light source 50, [0044] a carrier 60 of the light source 50, and [0045] an optical reflector 70.

[0046] The skin-contacting surface 42 serves to contact skin 100 of the user, wherein it is noted that a portion of skin 100 is diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and that the functional positioning of the skin treatment device 40 with the skin-contacting surface 42 abutting against the skin 100 can be seen in the figures. During operation of the skin treatment device 40, the light source 50 is in an active state to generate treatment light to be applied to the skin 100 via the light-transmitting portion 43 of the skin-contacting surface 42. The light source 50 may be an LED, for example, particularly an LED which is configured to emit infrared light, near-infrared light, blue light or red light.

[0047] It is practical if the carrier 60 is a PCB. In any case, the light source 50 is mounted on a side 61 of the carrier 60 facing away from the skin-contacting surface 42, which side is referred to as first side 61 of the carrier 60. Thus, during operation of the skin treatment device 40, the treatment light is not directly emitted towards the light-transmitting portion 43 of the skin-contacting surface 42. Instead, the treatment light reaches the light-transmitting portion 43 of the skin-contacting surface 42 via the optical reflector 70, which is located at a distance from the skin-contacting surface 42, and which may comprise a specular surface, a diffusive surface, or a combination of a specular surface and a diffusive surface for reflecting the treatment light. In any case, the reflecting surface 71 of the optical reflector 70 may have any suitable shape, such as a planar shape, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, or a curved shape. In FIGS. 3 and 4, boundaries of the emitted light and the reflected light are indicated through dotted lines. Optionally, the carrier 60 is coated with a diffusive reflecting layer, so that treatment light falling on the carrier 60 can be optimally recycled and directed towards the skin 100.

[0048] In respect of the carrier 60, it is noted that the light source 50 is mounted on the first side 61 of the carrier 60, as explained in the foregoing, and that further at least a portion of the opposite side 62 of the carrier 60, which is referred to as second side 62 of the carrier 60, is in thermal contact with the skin-contacting surface 42 through a portion of the housing 41, as shown in FIG. 3, or constitutes part of the skin-contacting surface 42, as shown in FIG. 4. It is practical if at the skin interface, the housing 41 comprises an optically transparent wall 44, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Further, it is practical if the space between the optical reflector 70 and said optically transparent wall 44 is filled with an optically transparent encapsulation material 80. In FIG. 3, a first option of the second side 62 of the carrier 60 being mounted in direct contact with an inner surface 45 of said optically transparent wall 44 is illustrated, whereas in FIG. 4, a second option of the carrier 60 being arranged in an opening provided in said optically transparent wall 44 is illustrated. In respect of the second option, it is noted that if the carrier 60 is a PCB, indeed, the PCB may be of the type that is provided with a finish such as a metal finish at the second side 62, or with a suitable coating, so that an appealing overall look of the skin-contacting surface 42 can be realized even though the second side 62 of the carrier 60 is visible. In both options, two portions can be distinguished in the skin-contacting surface 42, namely the light-transmitting portion 43 and a thermal portion 46 at the position of the second side 62 of the carrier 60. In respect of the first option, it is noted that it is possible to apply a wall which is optically transparent except for an area that is at the position of the second side 62 of the carrier 60.

[0049] On the basis of the configuration of the skin treatment device 40 as described in the foregoing, it is achieved that a long optical path for the treatment light is created so that the treatment light may diverge more than in a situation in which the treatment light would be emitted directly towards the light-transmitting portion 43 of the skin-contacting surface 42, so that a larger area of the skin 100 is illuminated, wherein the light is spread over the light-transmitting portion 43 of the skin-contacting surface 42 so that hot spots are avoided. A further advantage of the configuration of the skin treatment device 40 as described in the foregoing resides in the fact that at least a portion and possibly all of the second side 62 of the carrier 60 is in close thermal contact with the skin-contacting surface 42 through the optically transparent wall 44 or constitutes part of the skin-contacting surface 42, as it is in relation to this fact that a thermal path from the light source 50 to the skin 100 can be as short as possible. Thus, on the basis of the configuration of the skin treatment device 40 as described in the foregoing, the output of the light source 50 in terms of generated light and heat is used in an effective and optimal fashion to realize treatment of the skin 100 by conductive thermal heating, and also by other phenomena such as deep optical-thermal heating in case the light source is configured to emit infrared or near-infrared light. Due to the short thermal path from the light source 50 to the skin 100, conductive heat transport from the light source 50 to the skin 100 is fast, and the user is enabled to experience the heating effect on the skin 100 right from the start of operation of the skin treatment device 40. Advantageously, the optically transparent wall 44 comprises a material having good thermal conductive properties besides being optically transparent or moderately scattering, such as sapphire or sintered/annealed alumina.

[0050] Aspects of the integration of skin treatment devices 40 in the hair-cutting units 4 of a shaving unit 3, especially in the skin-supporting member 30 of each of the hair-cutting units 4, become apparent from a consideration of FIGS. 5-11. In the figures, two metallic pins 51, 52 of each of the skin treatment devices 40 for connection of the skin treatment device 40 to an energy source such as a battery of the electric shaver 1 of which the shaving unit 3 is part can be seen. In the shown example, each of the treatment devices 40 comprises a plurality of light sources 50 mounted on a common carrier 60, wherein each of the light sources 50 is an LED and the carrier 60 is a PCB, and wherein the second option of the carrier 60 being arranged in an opening provided in the optically transparent wall 44 is applicable, so that the skin 100 is directly touched by the second side 62 of the carrier 60 when the shaving unit 3 is held against and/or moved over the skin 100. The optically transparent wall 44 is located at the outside of the skin-supporting member 30, and the optical reflector 70 is located in the interior of the skin-supporting member 30. In each of the hair-cutting units 4, the light sources 50 and the carrier 60 of the skin treatment device 40 are arranged so as to partially surround the external cutting member 10, so that the user can experience the skin treatment from areas of significant size around the areas where the shaving action takes place. Due to the geometry of the skin-supporting member 30, most of the treatment light is trapped inside the skin-supporting member 30 and can escape only in a situation of contact between the skin-contacting surface 42 and the skin 100, i.e. the very situation in which escape of the treatment light is envisaged for realizing the intended skin treatment.

[0051] It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the foregoing, and that several amendments and modifications thereof are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such amendments and modifications insofar they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalents thereof. While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the figures and the description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary only, and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The drawings are schematic, wherein details which are not required for understanding the invention may have been omitted, and not necessarily to scale.

[0052] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by a person skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the figures, the description and the attached claims. In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other steps or elements, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0053] Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Thus, the mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0054] The terms comprise and include as used in the present text will be understood by a person skilled in the art as covering the term consist of. Hence, the term comprise or include may in respect of an embodiment mean consist of, but may in another embodiment mean contain/have/be equipped with at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species.

[0055] Notable aspects of the invention are summarized as follows. In the field of skin treatment, a device 40 is provided which is of the type comprising a housing 41 provided with a skin-contacting surface 42 arranged to be in contact with skin 100 of a user during use of the device 40. In the device 40, at least one light source 50 is arranged in the housing 41 for generating treatment light to be applied to the skin 100 via a light-transmitting portion 43 of the skin-contacting surface 42 which is optically transparent, wherein the light source 50 is mounted on a first side 61 of a carrier 60, said first side 61 facing away from the skin-contacting surface 42, and wherein the housing 41 accommodates an optical reflector 70 for reflecting the treatment light generated by the at least one light source 50 towards the light-transmitting portion 43 of the skin-contacting surface 42. Further, at least a portion of a second side 62 of the carrier 60 opposite to the first side 61 is mounted to an inner side of a wall portion of the housing 41 including part of the skin-contacting surface 42, or constitutes part of the skin-contacting surface 42, whereby a short thermal path from the light source 50 to the skin 100 is realized.